When President Samia graced the stage and shared her journey

Last year, Mwananchi Communications Limited (MCL) marked a significant milestone by celebrating the fourth edition of The Citizen Rising Woman Initiative (RWI)—an event dedicated to honouring women’s achievements and building upon the success of previous editions.

The theme for the 2024 edition, “Count Her In,” served as a call to action for individuals, institutions, businesses, and the government to integrate gender equality and equity into every decision-making process at every stage of development.

What began as a boardroom conversation has grown into a powerful movement that connects communities and celebrates women’s accomplishments. Since its inception, the initiative has recognized outstanding women through 30 awards, reinforcing its commitment to empowerment.

A Platform for Change

Every February, as the world celebrates love and unity, MCL dedicates this time to honouring women who lead, inspire, and pave the way for others.

Launched on February 1, 2021, Rising Woman was created to identify and profile women in leadership positions across various industries in Tanzania, with the goal of promoting women’s empowerment.

Over the years, the initiative has gained momentum, becoming one of the most influential platforms for highlighting women’s achievements in leadership, business, and professional spaces.

As Rising Woman prepares for its fifth edition, it is worth reflecting on the impact of the 2024 edition, which exceeded expectations by hosting President Samia Suluhu Hassan as the guest of honour.

A Historic 2024 Edition

The 2024 Rising Woman event, organised by MCL, took place on March 8 at the Super Dome, Dar es Salaam. President Samia not only graced the event but also participated in a Fireside Chat, where she shared her vision for gender equality and assessed the contributions of the sixth-phase government in empowering women across various leadership fields.

Her presence was especially significant, as she embodies the essence of Rising Woman. As Tanzania’s first female president, her leadership has been instrumental in advancing gender equality through policy reforms.

Also read: LIVE: President Samia at The Citizen Rising Woman 2024

While progress is ongoing, Tanzania has made significant strides in increasing the representation of women in key government positions, including strategic ministries such as Defence and National Service, Health, and Constitutional and Legal Affairs, as well as top leadership roles in the public sector.

Rising Woman: A Legacy of Impact

MCL Managing Director, Bakari Machumu, highlighted that The Citizen Rising Woman has become a core part of MCL’s mission—leveraging innovation to advance United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG5): Gender Equality.

“Readers are eager to understand what enables women to succeed in their professions and how they can learn from these role models,” he said.

 He further emphasised that since the initiative began, The Citizen has published 217 stories showcasing the contributions of women in leadership and the strategies institutions are using to uplift them.

Additionally, the initiative has recognized 35 institutions for their commitment to gender-inclusive leadership, and today, MCL will honour 10 new award recipients. For readers interested in these inspiring stories, articles are available at thecitizen.co.tz and RisingWoman.org.

Looking Ahead

The Rising Woman symposium has now become a tradition and a key part of International Women’s Day celebrations. Each year, on March 8, MCL convenes women leaders and key stakeholders to discuss opportunities for women in leadership and showcase institutions making measurable progress in gender equity.   “All these efforts aim to improve gender balance in leadership, ensuring that decision-making reflects the voices and perspectives of women, who make up nearly 51 percent of  Tanzania’s population,” said Bakari Machumu.

He concluded by reinforcing a crucial point: “Success in life, business, or governance is not possible if half of Tanzanians lack representation at the highest decision-making levels.” With each edition, Rising Woman continues to inspire, empower, and drive change—cementing its place as Tanzania’s leading platform for celebrating and uplifting women.

The 2024 event also featured influential panelists from both the private and public sectors, including: Marsha Macatta-Yambi – Executive Director, UN Global Compact Network Tanzania; Miranda Naiman – Founding Partner, Empower; Obinna Anyalebechi – Managing Director, Serengeti Breweries; Dr Anna Makakala – Commissioner General, Tanzania Immigration. The moderator was Brenda Msangi, CEO, CCBRT